Motor-vehicle.



mama? I E. P. GOWLES.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 6, 1912.

Patented. July 14, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E. P. GOWLES. MOTOR VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 6, 1912.

Patented July 14,1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. P. COWLES. MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 6, 1912.

1,103,567. I Patented July 14,.19m

. m w 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3. E I 5 LE. 7 25 IIIIIIIIIIIII:

Wbtwwoeo W -views. J vTn the drawings there is illnstr'ated'a mounwam)1'. comics, or SPARTA, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, er mnsNE AssIenmEnTs, To

PACKARD-MOTOR can. COMPANY, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, a CORPORATION or,

MICHIGAN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

MOTOR-VEHICLE.

Patented July 114, a

Original application filed September 6, 1901, serial No. 74,497. Dividedand this application filed August 6, 1912. Serial No. 713,650.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD P. CowLrs,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Sparta, in the county ofKent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Motor-Vehicles, of which the following isaspecification.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 74,497,filed September c, .1901.

My present invention relates to improvements in motor vehicles andparticularly to the running gear and steering mechanism of suchvehicles.

An object of the invention is to provide a light and strong steering hubthe pivotal supports otwhich are arranged in the revolving plane ofthewheel.

Another objectis to provide front and rear Wheel hubs so constructed asto permit of a convenient and quick interchange of wheels or thesubstitution of a spare wheel for a disabled one. I

With these and other objects inview, the invention consists in theconstruction and arrangement of parts described in the .followingspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, inwhich,

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly broken away, ot a motor vehicle in whichpower is applied to the rear wheels only; Fig. 2 is a. view' of thefront end of said vehicle, partly broken away; Fig. 3 is a verticalsection through one of the steering wheel hubs and a portion of theaxle; Fig. 4 is a similar view through one of the driving hubs; Fig.

'5 is a view showing the steering hub illustrated in Fig. 3, partly insection, a portion of the shaft in section, and the connecting mechanismin plan; and Fig. 6 is an inner end View of the hub shown in Fig. 5;

Like parts are identified'by the same reference numerals throughout theseveral t'or vehicle comprising a'suitabllebody 117 on frame '112supported on springs 12? on front axle 10 and rearaxle 81. The axles arecambered or arched and are connected. by reach bars 84 and supported onfront steering wheels 8 and rear driving wheels 81.

The steering wheels illustrated in the drawings are of that form or typein whichthe main axle or wheel support is fixed and the wheel is adaptedto turn, to guide the vehicle, on joints or steering knuckles arrangedator near the central revolving plane of the wheel. This form ofsteering knuckle with the type of bearings hereinafter described and theslight camber given to-the axles or steering spindles, makes 'a very Istrong construction out comparatively light weight. I

The rear wheels ofan automobile by reason of their'function ofbothdriving and carrying the most weight are much more subject to wear andliable to be disabled than the front Wheels, and it often happens that arear wheel tire which has become so much worn that it would soon beuseless on a driv:

mounted interchangeably on the front and rear axles.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the wheel hubs forthe/front and rear axles are similar, being shown as composed of ahollow cylinder 2 adapted to receive the wheel spokes, which can be ofwire, as

shown. or of any other suitable .material,

and a boss or part 21 connected to the cylinder part 2 by a web 4. Thisboss or part 21 ofthe wheel hub is bored out the same on all of thewheels of the vehicle so that itwill interchangeably fitupon the hubreceiving members of both axles, as hereinafter more fully described.

The hub receiving member for the front or steering axle 10 is shown inFig. 3 in the form of a cylinder or sleeve 3 rotatably mountedon thespindle 5 and is arranged for"steering and not for driving. Said sleevehasan external bearing surfaceadapted to receive the wheel hub as abovesuggested, and it is also formed with project-ions 3 approximatelymidway of its length.

Each of the wheel hubs also has parts such as teeth or projections 25formed as shown on the boss or part 21 adjacent the middle part of thehub to fit the projections 3 on the hub receiving member.

The hub receiving member for the rear or driving axle 81' is shown inFig. 4 in the form of a spool or cylinder it. and is arranged fordriving and not for steering. being suitably connected with a drivingshaft 23 rotatably arranged within said axle 81. The driving shaftoraxle :23 may as shown have its outer end enlarged by this spool orcylinder Q-l and the exterior thereof is accurately the same as theexternal bearing surface of the hub receiving member of the front axle.so that the boss 31 of any wheel will fit either the cylinder 3 or thespool '24. The rotating motion of the driving axle 23 maybe transmittedto the wheel hub by a feather or key, or any other suitable means. but Iprefer to provide the inner end of the spool 24 adjacent the rollerbearings .27 with a flange or shoulder 26 which is provided on its outerface with a series of teeth or projections similar to the teeth orprojections 3" on the cylinder 3, adapted to engage with the teeth orprojections 25 on the boss 21 of the hub. and which are engaged by theteeth 3 when the hub is applied to the steering axle.

A cap nut 22 for the front axle and a similar nut 22 for the rear axle.hold the wheels on the hub receiving members with their teeth inengagement with the teeth on the cylinder 3 and the boss 24.respectively. thus retaining the detachable hubs firmly in place. Bysimply removing the nuts 22, 22' the wheels can be interchanged or incase of extended journeys an extra wheel carried on the carriage can bequickly and conveniently puton to replace-a disabled one.withoutdisturbing the ball or roller bearings in any way.

The hub receiving member on the front axle. hereinhefore described, isadapted to any kind of bearing, but I preferably use a combined ball andplain hearing, as shown particularly in Fig. 3. The ball bearings 18, 18are of the usual form. except that the inner bearing is larger than theouter to take care of the greater leverage at that point and to fit thelarger circumference of the stepped axle journal or spindle 5. Thecylinder 3 of the hub has a bronze ringer sleeve 19 fitted therein nearits inner end. which sleeve bears against the surface of the axle 5 orthe ball race sleeve which surrounds the axle. A jam nut 20 retains bothbearings in place and thereby holds the hub receiving member on theaxle. The cylinder 3 extends beyond the end of the spindle 5 and thusthejam nut 20 is arranged wholly within the end of the cylinder. About theball race 18 and the jam nut is fitted another bronze ring 20 whichcontacts with the inner surface of the outer end of the cylinder 3. Theplain bearings ordinarily and the jam nut 20 also effectually close theouter end of the cylinder to prevent dirt getting into the bearings whenchanging outer hubs 9 as will be hereinafter described. I

Referring particularly to Fig. 3 of the drawings. the steering spindleor axle journal 5 has a base portion 6, which is formed in the. cupshape shown. extending entirely around the axle and into the hub betweenthe two cylinders 2, 3. At its free end this cup shaped member isprovided with two short trunnions 7. 7 arranged diametrically oppositeeach other and in the same vertical plane, their axes being in or nearthe central plane of rotation of the wheel 8. The said trunnions 7. 7',extend into and have hearings in eyes formed in the upper and lower armsor branches 9, 9. of a fork which is attached to the end of thestationary or fixed axle 10 by a divided socket 11. It is obvious thatbythis construction the wheel 8. while being held rigidly upright is freeto turn laterally on a nearly vertical axis which lies approximately inthe central plane of rotation of the wheel. and that the tendency of thewheel to be deflected from its proper'course by contact withobstructions is reduced to a minimum. By making axle10 arched orcambered the trunnions or spindles 5 are arranged in planes at slightangles to the horizontal arid the revolving planes of the wheels standout more nearly radial to the usual curved section of the road bed.Since. as will be hereinafter described in detail, I place the largerand stronger of the bearings of the steering wheels inwardly of theirrevolving planes,

this arched or cambered construction brings the tread of the wheel, atthe point of contact with the ground approximately in yertica lalinement with these larger bearings.

T he forks 9. 9'. are provided at their free ends with arms 12, 12',respectively, which extend about the cup shaped portion 6 of the axleand are bolted together at 13 where they meet in the central horizontalplane of the axle. By this arrangement the fork can be made very lightand have abundance of strength.

The above construction makes a strong steering knuckle inside of thewheel hub with a sufliciently long pivot to give the wheel stability andto make the steering knuckle very compact and light, without materiallyincreasing the diameter of the hub over that ordinarily employed. Thisimproved form of hub is also of advantage in that the roller bearing 27of the driving axle can be extended inside the hub of the driving wheelwell toward the center thereof thus relieving the driving axle 23 ofmuch. strain in carrying the weight of the vehicle.-

nected to arms 28 or other means provided for that purpose. In Fig. 5 Ihave illustrated a steering mechanism which comprises link 34, lever 31and links 29. For further description of this operating mechanism and ofthe other arts of the vehicle shown but not claime herein, reference maybe had to my co-pending application No. 74,497.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters- Patent is:

1. In a motor vehicle, the combination with the front axle and thespindle pivoted thereto, of a wheel on said spindle, two independentbearings interposed between'said spindleand the hub of said wheeladjacent the ends of the spindle, said bearings being of differentsizes, the larger being mounted at the base end of the spindle, and oneof said bearings being located approximately in vertical alinement withthe point of contact of the tread of said wheel with the ground whilethe other of said bearings is located out of line therewith, and asingle adjusting means for retaining both bearings in position. 1

2. In a motor vehicle, the combination with the front axle, the spindlepivoted thereto to swing in a plane at a slight angle to the horizontal,a large bearing mounted ,at the base end of said spindle, and a smallerbearing mounted 'at the outer end of said spindle, of a, wheel'having a"hub, mounted on said bearings, the rim of thewheel being soconstructediand located relative to the hub,'and'the'spindle being soinclined, that the tread of the wheel at the point of contact with theground is approximately vertically inline with one, and out of line withthe other, of said'bearings. a 3 M 3Q'dll1 a motor vehicle, thecombination with the front axle, the spindle ivoted thereto toswing in aplane at a sligh angle "to the horizontal, a large bearing mounted atthe baseend of said spindle, and a smaller bearing mounted at the outerend of said spindle, of a wheel having a hub mounted on said bearings,the rim of the wheel being soconstructed and located relative to thehub, and the spindle being so inclined, that "the tread of the "wheel atthe point of contact with the ground is approximately ve r-- tically inline with the larger of said bearmgs. f

4, In .amotor vehicle, the combination withthe fronthxle, the stepped"spindle I pivoted thereto, a large bearinginounte'd at the 'basetnd bffsais spindleand a smaller 35' hearing monument the outer end-er saidspindle, or a wheel havin a hub mounted on said bearings and inc ined sothat the point of contact of the tread thereof with the ground isapproximately vertically in line with the inner and larger-of saidbearings. v

5. in a motor vehicle, the combination with a stationary axle, of awheel having a hub formed of two concentric tubular memhers detachablyconnected together, the:

spokes. of the wheel being attached directly only to the outer of saidmembers and the spindle and the hub of said wheel adjacent the ends ofthe spindle, and one of said bearings being locatedapproximately invertical alinement with the point of contact of the tread of the wheelwith the ground, and a single adjusting means for retaining bothhearings in position.

' 7. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a front and a rearstationary axle, of a steerin spindle pivoted at the end of the front axe, a hubreceiving member surrounding and freely rotatable upon saidspindle, a driven hub receiving member at the end of said rear axle, andWheels having hubs adapted to be 'removably secured, interchangeably, tosaid hub receiving members.

- 8. In a motor vehicle, the combination with-a front and a rearstationary axle, of a steering spindle pivoted :at the end of the frontaxle, a hubreoeivingmember surrounding and freelywrotatable upon saidspindle and having teeth or projections, a driven hub-receiving memberat the end of said rear axle and-having teeth or projec- -tions, andwheels having hubs adapted to be removably secured, interchangeably, tosald hu-b receiving members, and having teeth'or projectiqns adapted tofit the teeth gr pro ections on said hub-receiving mem- 9. In ,a motorvehicle, the combination with the front and rear stationaryaxles, of

steering spindles pivoted at the ends of the .front' axle, hu'breceiving members surrounding and rotatably mounted on said spindles, adriving shaft rotatablyarranged within said rearstationary axle, hubreceivmembers at the ends of said rear axle "and connected to be drivenby said driving inner hub member engaging suitable bearshaft, and wheelshaving hubs ada ted to be 139 removably secured, interchangeably, tosaid rounding said spindle, anti-friction bearings between the memberand spindle, a driven hub-receiving member at the end of said rear axle,anti-friction supporting bearings for said rear stationary axle, andwheels having hubsadapted to interchangeably fit on said hub receivingmembersand readily removable therefrom without removing 'or exposingsaid anti-friction bearings.

11. In a motor vehicle, the combination with the front and rearstationary axles, of.

steering spindles pivoted. at the ends of the front axle, hub-receivingmemberssurround ing said spindles, anti-friction bearings be-,

tween the members and spindles, a driving shaft arranged within saidrear stationary axle, hub-receivin members at the ends of said rear axlean connected to be driven by said driving shaft, anti-friction support-.

- ing bearings for said rear stationary axle,

and wheels having hubs adapted to interchangeably fit on .said hubreceiving members and readily removable therefrom without removing orexposing said'anti-friction bearings.

12. In a motor with an axle spindle having a roller bearing .including arace mounted on the axle, of ahub receiving member mounted" on saidroller bearing, a nut on the axle for retalnmg said race in position,means coaxial w1th said 'axle and engaging the inner surface of; saidhub receiving member for excluding dirt from said bearing, a wheelhaving a hub removably mounted on said hub receiving member, and meansremovable without disturbing said nut or removing said dirt excludingmeans from the hub receivmg member, for retaining said wheel on the hubreceiving member.

13. In a motor vehicle, the combination with an axle spindle having aroller bearing including a race mounted on theaxle, of a hub receivingmember mounted on said roller bearing, a nut on the axle for retainingsaid race in position, means coaxial with said axle and engaging theinner surface of said hub receiving member for excluding dirt from saidbearing, a ,wheel having a hub removably mounted on said hub receivingmember, and means, removable without disturbing said nut or removingsaid dirt excluding means from the hub receiving member, for retainingsaid. wheel on the hub receiving member, saidwheel retaining meansforming a closure for the outer end of said wheel hub.

' 14. In a. 'motor vehicle, the combination with an axle and a steeringspindle pivot vehicle, the combination ed thereto, of a hub receivingmember rotatably mounted on said spindle and extending beyond the endthereof, means wholly within said member for retaining said member onthe spindle, a wheel having a hub adapted to be fitted upon and readilyremoved from said member, and means surrounding the extended end of saidmember for retaining said wheel thereon.

15. In a motor veh'cle, the combination ,with an axle, of a hubreceiving member rotatably mounted thereon and extending beyond the endthereof, saidhub receiving member having an external bearing surface fora hub and having teeth or rojections approximately midway of its ength,means wholly within said member for retaining the member on the axle, awheel hub removably mounted on said hub receiving member and bearing onsaid external bearing surface, said-hub also having parts adjacent itsmiddle adapted to fit said teeth or projections, and means adapted toretain the-hub on the member with said teeth or projections inengagement with said parts.

l6. Ina motor "v" hicle, in combination, stationary front and rearaxles, steering spindles pivoted to the front axle, hub. receivingmembers surrounding said spindles, roller bearings between said membersand spindles, a driving shaft within said rear axle, hub receivingmembers having driving connection with said driving shaft, rollerbearings atthe outer ends of the stationary rear axle through which thelatter is supported by said hub receiving members, wheels'having hubsadapted to interchangeably fit' said hub receiving vmembers and adaptedto be fitted upon and readily removed from said members 'withoutdisturbing the bearings, and means for rigidly and removably securingsaid wheels to said hub receiving members.

17. In a motor vehicle, in combination, stationary front and rear axle'ssteering spindles pivoted to the front axle, hub re ceiving memberssurrounding said spindles, roller bearings between said members andspindles, a driving shaft within said rear axle, hub receiving membershaving driving connection with said driving shaft, roller bearings atthe outer ends of the stationary rear axle through ,which the latter issupported by said hub receiving members, wheels having hubs adapted tointerchangeably fit said hub receiving members and adapted to be fittedupon andreadily re-- moved from said members without disturbing thebearings, and means, for each of said axles, secured to said hubreceiving members, adapted to engage the wheel hubs to removably securesaidwheels to said hub receiving members.

' 18. In a motor vehicle, in combination, stationary front and rearaxles, steering moans? a spindles pivoted to the front axle, hubreceiving members surrounding said spindles and having teeth orprojections, roller bear ings between said members and spindles, adriving shaft within said rear axle and projecting beyond the endsthereof, roller bearings between the driving shaft and the stationaryrear axle adjacent the outer ends of the latter, hub receiving memberssecured upon the projecting ends of the driving shaft and having teethor projections, wheels having hubs adapted to interchan eably fit saidhub receiving members and a apted to be fitted upon and readily removedfrom said members without disturbing the bearings, saidhubs having teethor projections adapted to fit the teeth or projections on said hubreceiving members, and means for retaining the hubson the hub receivingmembers with the teeth or projections in interengagement.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.4

EDWARD P. COWLES. Witnesses:

BERT Bns'r, IVAN L. SMITH.

